Date of intake:: 12/26/2024

Spay/Neuter status:: No

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray, no known history

Date of assessment:: 12/28/2024

Summary:: Sugar Cube was surrender as a stray so his past behaviors in a home is unknown. In the Care Centers, Sugar Cube is fearful and was observed to lunge, hard bark, snap and visibly shake. Due to these behaviors, Sugar Cube will not receive a handling assessment.

Summary (7):: 1/4/25: Sugar Cube has been reported by staff to resource guard food given by staff and medical. When a medical staff member noticed Sugar had not eaten their meds they attempted to use a hook to remove the food from the kennel. However Sugar Cube began to growl and bear teeth before lunging toward the food, before standing over it and eating it. 12/29/24: Sugar Cube is laying at the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is woken up as handler begins unlocking kennel door and takes treats from handler before being leashed and walked out of the kennel into the hallway. A treat trail is tossed to lead him out of kennel and he is walked to the street. During his walk he stops frequently to sniff areas of the street and uses the bathroom while outside. He begins refusing treats tossed to him but walks alongside handler and doesn't pull. He walks past people on the street without issue and after walking a while is brought back inside. Handler is able to clip Sugar Cube and he returns without issue. 12/28/24: Sugar Cube is laying near the front of his kennel as handlers approach. He is leashed while distracted by treats and is put on a double leash. He walks out of kennel slowly and looks at the dogs barking that he passes but is distracted by front handler using a treat trail to guide him out. He is brought to the backyard for his walk, while outside he walks in between front and back handler. He does not pull but begins refusing treats once in the backyard, he is walked into one of the play yards after he sniffs around a bit more. Sugars body is neutral and his tail slowly wags in a horizontal position. When another handler with a different dog enters the play yard, Sugar Cube stares at them intently. He is called by handler and turns after they pass by. He uses the bathroom while in the play yard and afterwards is walked around the perimeter of the yard. After walking around for a bit more he is clipped by handlers. When clipping Sugar Cube initially does not turn when clipped but as the second handler clips their leash he turns and looks up at handler but tolerates the clipping. He is brought back to kennel, stopping once at the front. Treats are tossed and moderate leash pressure is used to return him to kennel. 12/28/24: Sugar Cube was left in an airline crate overnight in the behavior office, he is laying in the crate as handlers approach. As handlers move closer to the kennel in an attempt to interact with him, as handler begins to move forward Sugar Cube lunges towards handlers. His crate shakes and he begins to growl and hard bark intensely at handlers. Handlers use high value chicken to distract him which works momentarily, but he will continue to snap, lunge and hard bark when treats are not present. Handlers end interaction, he is sedated and moved into kennel for safety purposes.

Date of intake:: 12/26/2024

Summary:: Growl, hard bark and lunges

Date of initial:: 12/27/2024

Summary:: Growling then lunge

ENERGY LEVEL:: We have no history on Sugar Plum so we cannot be certain of their behavior in a home environment. However, they will need daily mental and physical activity to stay engaged and exercised. We recommend long-lasting chews, food puzzles, and hide-and-seek games, in additional to physical exercise, to positively direct their energy and enthusiasm.

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to Sugar Cube's behavior in the Care Centers, Sugar Cube should got o a home with adults only. Place with a New Hope partner: Sugar Cube has not acclimated well to the kennel environment and has allowed only minimal handling since intake. We recommend placement with a New Hope partner who can provide any necessary behavior modification (force-free, positive reinforcement-based) and re-evaluate behavior in a stable home environment before placement into a permanent home.

Potential challenges: : Resource guarding,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Resource Guarding: Sugar Cube has been observed to growling, bare teeth, and lunge when handlers attempt to remove food from his possession. We recommend that Sugar Cube be left alone while eating, and that food guarding behavior modification steps (available at ASPCApro.org) be utilized if this behavior is problematic in their future home. Nothing should ever be taken directly out of Sugar Cube's mouth, and any time something is removed they should be rewarded with a high value treat or toy. Please see handout on Resource Guarding. Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Sugar Cube was noted to growl, hard bark, and lunge at staff. Positive reinforcement should be used to help Sugar Plum associate new people with things he likes such as treats and toys. Please see the handout on Fearful/potential for defensive aggression.